Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him…

vv 31-33 Then they got Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.”

He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”…

50:15-20 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

So much happens in the story of Jacob’s family- and much of it is not good. (If you have time, read the whole story.) From parental favoritism and sibling rivalry, there was much lying, deception, pride and jealousy. A righteous family they were not. And yet, they were God’s chosen family. This family of Jacob and his 12 sons would form the 12 tribes of Israel out of which the Messiah would come. God took this band of scoundrels and misfits and over the centuries he led them and taught them and molded them into his people. Yes, they messed up – a lot! – but He always loved loved them.

Look at Joseph, betrayed and sold for silver by his own family. Though he was innocent, he would be punished and thrown in jail for many years in Egypt. And in spite of everything , he would go on to be second in command only to Pharaoh and save the people of the land during the seven years of famine, including his own family who did him wrong.

Like Joseph, Jesus too would be betrayed and sold for silver. He was punished though he was innocent. And like Joseph, what was intended for evil, God used for good. Out of the pain and suffering of a torturous death, God gave us life. God took all the ugliness of humanity, and gave us redemption. God took what was meant to end Jesus and scatter his disciples and established his kingdom, with followers now numbering in the billions.

God took a dysfunctional family and made it his own. He took the death of his Son and saved the world. He can take terrible things and bring good out of them. It still doesn’t make the bad things good, but it does mean that God can redeem and transform even the bad things that happen to us and in the world. That’s the business he is in. Taking the messes and making them right. Taking situations that seem hopeless and imbibing them with hope. Taking our lives, with all its joys and sorrows, and doing more with them than we could ask or imagine.

Let us pray.

O God, it is incredible what you have done and still do for us. You can take the worst that happens and use it for your good. Help us to always call on you, especially when we are feeling hopeless, lost, and forgotten in a prison of despair and help us to realize you are with us even there. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

Questions

Can you recall times in your life where God took something bad and brought something good out of it?

Watching the news of 2020 and there is much we desire God to transform into something good. Perhaps there are things in your personal life as well. Bring these things to God in prayer. Listen to what he has to say in response.

Joseph forgave his brothers in spite of what they did to him. Is there anyone in your life to whom you hold onto unforgiveness? Can you ask God to help you forgive them?